Tractor plow



April 30, 1940. I J. GAISER 2.198.869

TRACTOR PLO Filed NOV. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l W 44 5g 82 52 3 F. 2 '56 54 34 I 78 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

April 30, 1940. J. GAISER 2,198,869

TRACTOR PLOW eets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1959 2 INVENTOR.

Patented A r. 30, 1940 l UNITED STATES OFFICE y a 1 2,19 8, 86 9 l i TRAoroR PLow John Gaiser, near Centerv'ille, )hio Application November 9, 1939, SeriaLNo. 303,619 1s Claiinsp (c1. 97-4155) This invention relates to plowsandmore particularly to that type of plow which is be drawn by a tractor. 3 One of the greates't defects in commercially available tractor plows is in the hitch, 'for while tractorshave been developed which will make substantially a, right angle turn at the corner, of

afield, the plows used, necessarily have the front end of the beam, hingedly connected to the rear of the tractor, whereby, when the tractormakes a right angle turn, the plow is dragged diagonally across the corner practically out of control.

Due to. this defect, operators of tractor plows raise the plow out of the" ground during the period of time thatthe tractoris turning the corner whereby that partof each field at theturns must be plowed subsequently by a second operation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide .a plow which so operates on the turns that, an entire field may be plowed without raisingthe plow outofthe ground, i

More particularly, an ,object of the invention is to provide, a positively controlled hitch between turns than on the straightaway, and itis therethe tractor and the plow which will cause the plow to make a definite short radius turn each timethe tractordraws it around a corner. i

When a rectangular field is plowed by making a continuous furrow, with each turn aroundthe last, with thesame radius at the corners, it will be found that a wider swath is required on the fore another object of this invention tocprovide means for momentar-ilyincreasing the width of the swath being plowed as the plow passes around the turns at the corners. V l

Since the process of plowing involves cutting loose a stripof soil approximately foot wideand half as deep and turning it over, it is well known that the entire surface of a field is moved laterallyl'about a foot witheach plowing, and good practicetherefcre consists in plowing a given .field one .time by beginning atthe center and making right turns. at the corners and the next timeby beginning at theoutside and making left turns at. the corners, whereby the surface is moved alternately toward and away from the center of the field.

It is therefore another object of this invention to, so construct and arrange the embodiment thereof that all of its functions will be operative Whether it is being employed for right or for left hand plowing; j e

, That these and other objects and meritorious features are attained in the embodiment hereinafter disclosed will become more evident as the adapted to rounding the corner other, at the corners.

rounding the corner of a field by a right hand turn, that is, clockwise;

Fig; 3 is a top plan view of the plow, when of a field by a left hand turn, that is, anti-clockwise. 19

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the plow.

Figs. 5 and 6 show diagrammatically two of the conventional methods of meeting the difficulty encountered at the corners of afield being plowed by a tractor plow. Y

Fig. '7 shows diagrammatically how a plow which is designed to cut a givenswath on the straightaway will cut an insufficient swathwhen cuts of the same radius are taken, one within the Fig. 8 shows an alternate form ofhitch which may be substituted for that shown. in Figs. 1 to 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Construction 5 stood that they are built up of. separate parts including shoe, share, mold board, etc., as in cominon practice. A furrow wheel 26 and a land wheel "28 are carried on axles30 and 32 respectively.

Near the front end of the beam ID are laterally extending arcuate wings 34, below which a,

plate 36 of corresponding arcuate contour is held by rivets 38 which pass through the wings and plate with spacing collars 40 therebetween, thereby leaving a s-pacebetween the wings and plate equal to the height of the collars.

Pivotally supported on the underside of the cross brace l6 by a hinge bolt 42 is the draw bar Mgthe front end of which extends through the space between the wings 34 and the plate 36, 5a the lateral swinging movement of the front end ofthe draw bar about-the pivot 42 being therefore limited by the collars 40. l

The extreme front end of the draw bar is pivotally held on the hitch plate 46of a tractor 2 by a. hinge bolt 48 which may be loose enough in the hole in the end of the draw bar to allow a limited degree of flexibility when the tractor or horizontal plane. Bar 52 may be called a guide bar since it determines the direction of movement of the plow with respect to ,thatofthe tractor. The guide bar 52 is slidably fitted into a guide sleeve 54. The sleeve 54 is secured to the tractor in any suitable manner, the main object being to so secureit that it will not be able to swing in a horizontal plane with respect to the tractor, but must always have its axis lengthwise with'the tractor nomatter which way the tractor turns.

As a suitable means for securing the guide sleeve-54 to the 'tractor'hitchplate 46,-in the embodiment shown, there is provided a pairof "widely spaced apart prongs 56 which extend'fromthe forward end of the guide sleeve-, a pair of-ears 58 which extend upwardly from the hitch plate, and a pin which extends'through both the ears 58 and prongs 56. vides the desirable flexibility for plowing rolling ground, yet positively prevents swinging movement in a horizontal-plane of the guide sleeve 54 with respect to the tractor.

1 In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the guide bar 52 is threaded at its free 'end and the nuts H6 may be adjusted, then one jammed against the other to limit withdrawal of the guide bar 52 from the sleeve 54. v

The nuts H6 therefore act as a means to limit swinging movement of the guide bar 52, which has the same effect on the hitch as a-whole as the to'the right 7 .as at 14, Fig. 4. Tiller operating pins'lB and I8 wings 34 ,and collars 48 which limit swinging movement of; the drawbar 44. The wings 34, plate 36, and collars 4|] are therefore eliminated in the modification Fig.7.

The left limb l4"of' the beam ID, at its extreme rear end, has'a depending hub 62 (see Fig. 4) whichis bored to rotatably contain the shank 64 of a swinging yoke which carries an auxiliary bottom 68. The auxiliary bottom 68 .normally follows behind the left bottom 24 on' the straightaway" but is adapted to swing out when the plow rounds acorner. The desirability of this swinging movement will be more apparent when the operation .of the plow is hereinafter described. l

The upper end of the shank 64 is squared where it extends from theupper end of thehub 82, and a tiller H1 is'firmly secured to the squaredend so that the yoke 66 may be swung by turning the tiller, That part of the tiller which extends for-, wardly from thefshank (-34 is shorter than that part which extends rearwardly for. a reason which will later appear."

rearwardly from the hinge bolt 42-, is deflected as at I2, Fig. 1, and also upward extend upwardly'fromthe top surface of the drawbar. Front and rear tiller operating links 88 and 82 are hinged by pins 84 and88 to the front andrear ends respectively of the tiller 18. The front tiller operating link has a notch An extended spring 94 plow is passing over a hill or through a hollow.

end of the beam by a bolt- 50 is a bar 52 which is also adapted to swing in a front end of the guide .This fastening thereforepro- That portion of the drawbar 4,4 which extends 88 which fits'freely over the pin 16,- while the rear tiller operating link 82 has a notch 9|! which fits freely over the pin 18.

hooked over pins 98 and 98 draws the free ends of the links 80 and 82 toward each other.

The notch 88 is so slanted that when the rear end of the drawbar swings right, its pin 16 may pu'llthe front end of the tiller at 84 inward, but when the drawbar swings left it may exert only a limited force to push point 84 outward, otherwise the pin 16 will cam itself out of the notch 88 against the resistance of the spring 94.

The notch is so slanted that when the rear end of the drawbar swings left, its pin 18 may push the rear end of the tiller at 86 outward, but when the drawbar swings right it may exert only limited force to pull the point 86 inward,

' otherwise the pin 18 will cam itself out of the notch 90 against the resistance of the spring 94. It willnow be evident that no matter whether the drawbar 44 swings right or left, the tiller 10 will in either case be so turned as to extend the auxiliary bottom. 68 outward as in Figs. 2 and 3, but'tha-t whenever the drawbar is straight asin Fig l,'the bottom 68 will bedrawn in and held behind the left bottom 24.

in I

It'will also be evident that when the tractor gular plot maybe plowed by the method illus trated inFig. 5. Thisis done by plowing a swath I 00 from the center of a field outward and making loops "I02 at the corners. While making these loops, the plow bottoms are raised out of the groundp, This method is satisfactory for large tracts because the loop circumference issmall in proportion to the straightaway distances.

'An'other considerably used method is illustratedin'Fig. 6 where the plow bottom is raised out of the ground when making a turn I04. Since,

howevefi the radius ll'i4 required for making a turn is as large whennear' the' center of a field as when near the outside, the part of a field which is left unplowed takes the form of'a strip I08 which extends'from each corner to the center. i

Except in large tracts therefore, the extra labor involved'in plowing these strips I86 is almost as extensive as that of plowing the original portion. V

Fig. '7 shows, diagrammatically, a part offive I rounds, lflfl plowed with the improved short turn plow herein disclosed. Where, however, succes sive swaths, each having the same turningradius H9 are cut, one within the next, at the corners, there'is always a crescent shaped strip H2 between each' out which remains unplowed.

The short radius I II] can not possibly be plowed by. conventional methods and equipment, nor can the crescent shaped strips [l2 be plowed thereby.

The improved plow herein shown overcomes these shortcomings as follows: t

. As long. asthe tractor is following a straightaway H4, Fig.. '7, the plow remainsas in Fig. 1,

with the beam H], the drawbar 44, theguide b'ar 52, andvthe guide sleeve 54, all in alignment. The

rear part 12 of the drawbar is now at such an angle that the notches 88 and .90 are both over .their respective pins 16 and 18, whereby the tiller ,10. holds-the auxiliary bottom ;68 in back of the bottom 24.

the natural tendency of the landside or bottom is to follow? the straightaway) h I hotonly permitted by the "swingingof the a rbase!) when plowing right hand and the tiaettr' reaches a corner, and starts turning as '1 f i This is i engaging the notch 1 8,8, turns the tillerlll and yswings the yoke es with its jauxiliary bett mtt far enough to the outside to cutaway the cresce t rightas int-Fig.2 until arrested by "a coll 88 and rides t If a timer the ordinary ty ewae hiteriedin theordinary way to thejhitch plate lfif theplow would already h H corner, for its icenterline would be" of At the same time that the drawbar '44 swipes than, 8,

its rear end 72 swings left, whereby the:

HZ FiELTQ h m M When the rear endof the tiller swings ouh ward; the front end necessarily swings inward,

whereby the pin 16 is cammed out of the notch When plowing left hand and the tractor reaches a corner and starts turning as infilli "3, the drawbar a l swings left and the guide bar 52 t holds the nose of the plow beam "toj the straighti the same time cammingthe pin away; The movement to the right of the rear end 12 of the drawbar pullsthe' front end'"84of the tiller inward by the pin i 76 and lirik il lllat out ofthe slot 80 and sliding it along the concave edgeof it n Fig. 2, the link m for raising the plow out of ,erably be includedfiniahy v invention, although for clearness of illustration it is not shown 0 no part of this invention.

build a plow from jthej lin l; 82. forebeen swuhg outwardly hoth turned right and when it turned left. i i

The auxiliary bottom so has lthere when th For a farmer who always plows right handias 86 may be removed and the may be removed a the lid and hookedover thepin l8. v i It will be further understood thatthe means the ground will prefin the drawings since'it forms 1T0 furtherassist those skilled in thelartjjfto this disclosure, it maybe added that if it is desired to make a plowfwhicrrwill t as being midway betweenth p thh toms 22 and 24, but this point'may b r somewhat to tola shorter turning radius. i y

[The auxiliary botto m 68 must he made o swing outwardly a definite amount if it is to just eat to move the point 48 rearward] This before the plow begins turning. A similar l l nglw ngs 34.

width of theerescent H r h m pointwill be secant 45 "degrees timesthe'wijdtli extending the point 5B ofthe beam forward ahd shorte ing the front end of the drawbar s'olas thetractor to make a greater portion of y g res l may be had by lengthening the Iat erallyeXtenQ The pivotal point 42hr the drawhar 1 showh attain a largertriahgle b points 42, 48 and 5!) which would adaptthe he arrived at experimentally. If it is along the convex edge of theilink.

them in the rr-ciaimz i m th me shi sa tom, 'a drawbarior connectmg the or the-swath, minusthe width of the swath; With a twenty four inch swath'the orescent width will then be 24x 1.4142-24=9.94 inches; or in even figures, *10 inches. -From this a rule "may be deducte'clx whereby the auxiliary-jbottonifis always "ezitended fiv inches for each foot in width of the swathfi 'Thisis true independently of whether the radius llflyFig '7, is shorter or? i geri 1 The side rake of the auxiliary bottom may best V too steep lt willrun'out, tending to pullthe back end of the plow "to the left, while if it is too straight v across 'it'willact as a rudder and tend tothrow I he back'end of the aneed condition may mer t of this angle. M i

be had by proper adjust- "Throughout this description, where the terms 7 right and left are used, it is intended to mean "to' the right or it of aman standingbehind the "While asingl'e[embodiment only has been shown and describedQmany equivalents, variants,

or modifications of the invention could be pr0- posedy'as for instance in the fastening which holds the guidesleeve 54 axially aligned with the tractor or ihthe linkage whereby the auxiliary bottom is alwaysswung outwardlyby the drawbanwhether tliedrawbar swings'right or left. Insofar; therefore, as such equivalents are not found in-the prior art,'it isthe intentto embrace ollowi'ng claims'. l i

1*. In a "tractor plow, hitching means for hitching the tractor to the plow, said hitching means being adapted to" "shift 'whensaid tractor turns filiary'plow -hotton'i normallyalignedwith the first said plow bottom butshiftabie laterally out of said alignhieht; and means connecting said hitching means; to said auxiliary plowbottoin whereby the shifting of said auxiliary plow bfotto'm;

hitching means 2. In a"tractor-plow,hitchingfrneans for pivotally connecting the tractor "to-theplow, whereby said hitching mans may swing in a horizontal plane with respect to} said plow when said tractor turrisitchiastraight course, a plow bottom, an auxiliary 'plowbottom normally aligned with the first said plowjbottom but shiftable laterally out awga plow beam, a drawbar hin'ged to fsaid beaimfor conneeting the tractor t'ofthe plowfwhei ehyi said drawbar "may swing abei it"sa d 'hingejina horizontal plane with e sp ct to saidbeani when saidti'actor' turns from out of alignment; v t h 4. Inlatractorfplow; aIplOW beam a plow botabove the point of said bottom and hinged to the tractor, whereby "s drawhar may swingabout saidhinges in a horizo tal respect to said beam when s tractoi' turns iijom .a to li mit said winging movement, auxiliary straight line, means plow botton said plow normally in alignment With. bhyfiistfsaidbottbm butS hiftabIe laterally out" of said alignment, and means operative by said swinging .movement for laterally shifting said auxiliary bottom.

5. Inga-tractor plow, tom, a drawbar-hinged to bottomandadapted for hinged connection to the a plow beam, axplow botsaid beam above said means operative by the swinging movement of" said drawbar for swinging said auxiliary bottom out of said alignment.

6. A tractor plow comprising, a beam, a plow bottom, hitching means including a drawbar hinged to said beam above said bottom and adapted for hinged connection to'the tracton'whereby said drawbar may. swing in a horizontal plane with respect to said plow and tractor whensaid tractor turns from a straight path, means to limit the swinging movement of the drawbar with respect to the beam, an auxiliary plow bottom hinged to the plow and normally swung on its hinge into a position behind the first said bottom but adapted'to be swung laterally from" said position to widen the swath being plowed, and means operative by movement means for laterally swingingsaidauxiliary bottom.

7. A tractor-plow comprising, a plow beam, a'

plow bottom, hitching means including a drawbar hinged to said beam and adapted for hinged connection to the tractor. whereby the drawbar may be swung in one or the other directionin a horizontal plane with respect tosaidplow and tractor when said tractor turns to the right or left, an auxiliary plow bottom-normally in alignment with the first said plow bottom but adapted to be swung in one direction out of said alignment to widen the swath being plowed, and means connecting the hitching means to the auxiliary bottom adapted to swing said auxiliary bottom in said one direction by swinging of said drawbar in either direction.

8 'A tractor plow comprising, a beam, a fixed bottom,.an auxiliary bottom in back of the fixed bottom and normally in alignment therewith but adapted to swing laterally out of said alignment to widen the swath being cut, a drawbar adapted at its front end for connection to the tractor, hinged intermediate its endsto the beam above the fixed bottom and extending rearwardly from the hinge to provide an operating means for swinging the auxiliary bottom, whereby said drawbar may swing in a horizontal plane in one or the other direction when the tractor'turns right or left, and means connecting the rearwardly extending portion of the drawbar. to the auxiliary bottom to swing the auxiliary bottom laterally.

9.,Atractor plow comprising, a beam,.a fixed bottom, an auxiliarybottom in back of the fixed bottom and normally aligned therewith, but adapted to swing laterally in one direction out of said alignment to widen the swath being out, a drawbar adapted at its front end for hitching to the tractor and hinged intermediate its ends to the beam, whereby said drawbar may swing in a horizontal plane in one ,orgthe other direction as the tractor turns right or left, said drawbar extending rearwardly frorn itsxhinge to proof the hitching tom normally in back of the but swingable, laterally from bottom by theswingingrnovement of the said hitching means.

.. greases,

both forwardly and rearwardly thereof, front and rearlinks hinged respectively to the front and 5 l rear ends of the tiller,

hooks -'on the free ends of the links, and hook engaging means onthedrawbar, the hook on the front link being adapted to be engaged by its engaging means when the drawbar moves one directionto pull the front end of the tiller inwardly and the hook on the rear link being adapted to be engaged by its engaging means when the drawbar moves the other direction to push the rear end of the tiller outwardly, whereby. the auxiliary bottom is swung outwardly by either right or'left turning of the tractor. lorThe structure defined in claim 9 wherein the hooks are formed by diagonal notches cut in the edges of the links which face each other, and

the engaging means are pins extending from the 2 drawbar into the notches with an extension spring drawing the links toward each other, whereby the front link may apply positive force to pull the front end of the tiller inwardly but yielding force to push it outwardly,'and therear link may apply positive force to push the rear end of the tiller outwardly but yielding force to pull-it inwardly.

11. In a tractor plow, a beam, beam guiding means comprising a guide'bar so hinged to the front end of .the beam that the guide bar may swing in a horizontal plane with respect to the beam, and, guide member so secured to the rear end of a tractor as to prevent the guide bar from swinging in the tractor, said bar being'endwise slidable in said member, and a drawbar hinged farther rearward on said beam than said guide bar so as to allow the drawbar to swing in a horizontal plane with respect to the beam the front end of said drawbar being so hinged to said tractor as to allow the drawbar to swing in a horizontal plane with respect to the tractor.

12. The structure defined in, claim 11 wherein the, guide member is hinged to the rear .end of the tractor to swing in a vertical plane.

. 13. The structure defined in claim 11 with means to limit the endwise sliding movement of theguide'bar in the guide member. e a 14. In a tractor plow, a beam, 'swingable hitching, means including a guide bar so hinged to the front end of the beam that the guide bar may swing in a horizontal plane with respect to the f beam,.=a guide member so held to the rear end of the tractor that the guide member is prevented from swinging in a horizontal plane with respect tothe'tractor, said bar being endwise slidable in said member, a drawbar hingedv further rearward on saidbeam than said guide bar and hinged at its front end to the tractor so that the drawbar may swing in a horizontal plane both with respectto-the plow and tractor, a plow bottom rigidly fixed. to said beam, and an auxiliary plow botrigid plow bottom 15.- The structuredefined in claim. 14 wherein the firstsaid plow bottom is carried on a rigid yoke and the auxiliary plow bottom is carried on 7 a yoke' swingable on a vertical shank, with a tiller on said shank for swinging said yoke, and means I connecting the tiller to-a point on the swingable hitchingmeans, whereby saidjauxiliary bottom is swung when said hitching means swings. 1

a horizontal plane with respect'to 35 behind the fixed 6 alignment with the first, and means operative hitching means including a drawbar having its 5 position with respect to the first said bottom, but ment of the drawbar with respect to the beam,

connectingthe plow to a tractor including a into the nnplowed groundto add to the width 15 when the tractor turns from a straight course, i

I 2,198,869 a a 5 16'. In a tractor plow, means for hitching the and means operative by the shifting of the said tractor to the plow, a plow bottom, a second plow shiftable memberof saidhitching means to shift bottom normally aligned with the first, means. said auxiliary bottom o Operative p -f P whereby the second plow bottom may shift out of 8. In a tractor plow, a beam, a p w bo by turning movement of said tractor with respect rear end hinged back from the front of the beam to the plow to shift said second bottom out of near the plow bottom and its front endhinged to t the tractor, whereby said drawbar mayswing in 17. In a tractor plow, a plowbottom, an auxila horizontal plane with respect to said beam and iary cutting tool normally held in an inoperative said tractor, means to limit th Swin n m v 10 adapted to be shifted to an operative position a separate cutter carried by said beam and noralongside the first said bottom to widen the swath mally drawn along in the swath already plowed being cut by said first bottom, hitching means for but adapted upon turning acorner to swing out member adapted to shift with respect to the plow 01 the swath at the corners. l l

l JOHN GAI SER. V 

